GENERAL SPORTS AND BASEBALL REFERENCES To Play Ball (with) To cooperate with, deal withOut of the Ball Park In baseball, a "home run" -- but also meaning"irrelevant," "impossible to deal with"Ball park figures Within acceptable limits, rough estimateOut of our league Better than usNot in our league Inferior to usMajor, big leagues Highest level of "professionalism""Bush" league Cheap, lower-than-acceptableprofessionalism or ethicsJock Originally from 'jock strap', made by the Jockeysportswear company; colloquial for "athlete",stereotype of "not intellectual", jock mentalityBatting 1000 Doing perfectly, successful at everystage, in every way.To Score General: to achieve, to impress someone (Ireally scored with her). Sexual: to make asexual conquest, to consummate a sexualrelationship (Did you score?;Getting to 1st base Baseball. Getting started, being encouraged,usually as in a relationship (I didn't even getto 1st base!)It's a new ball game A new chance, a fresh slate; a situation in whichwe start again "from scratch"Playing hard ball Playing with no rules, no holds barred; toughnegotiations; no prentense of politeness.Beanball, "duster" To "dust one off" -- intimidate, throw a baseballat or near one's head as a warning or asretaliation"Left field" (Way out in left field, all the way from leftfield, etc) Implies remote position or distancefrom the mainstream, not being a part of the coreaction, etc.Touch base with Check with, keep in touch with people, keep themposted on a situation.To strike out To fail (baseball)Time out A breather, time to pause and rest from what oneis doing, reconsider.Locker room (talk) male privacy, familiarity; frank sexual talk, notfor "mixed company"7th inning stretch Pause near end of an activity, to refresh,reflect on encounter, etc.Throw a curve To deceive, trick, tactically confuse2 strikes against him Down to his last option, no "second chance", oddsloaded against successHe struck out He failedHe has "clout" Power, influence, leverageSqueeze play (baseball) "Sneaking" something through with a minor actionwhere a major action might normally have beenexpectedTo field questions (baseball) Handling questions with dexterity,counter to "sidestepping the issue"(bullfighting)Doubleheader Two main parts or features to an eventDouble play Two "victories" with the same action